Month: June 2015

Now that we’re about to turn the corner into July, many of your employees could be taking time off from work for various reasons—like for vacations, conferences, weddings, you name it. July and August are prime months for being out of the office and sometimes, paid time off requests can pop up out of nowhere and when you least expect them. It’s important, therefore, that you look ahead and figure out whether you have the manpower to see your editorial department through this time of limited resources.

In just a few weeks, we will be holding our third iteration of our Content Boost Content Marketing Crash Course, a one-day educational seminar providing marketers with the opportunity to learn about content marketing best practices. Taking place July 15 in the Big Apple, the crash course will feature a series of breakout sessions covering everything from the how to get the “yes” to content marketing (hint: do plenty of research upfront!) to the key ingredients of a robust blogging, social media and email marketing strategy.

But to get things started, we will jump-start the day with a session titled “Getting the Boss to Say Yes to Content Marketing,” designed to equip participants with the ammo needed to walk into their boss’s office and get the green light. Whether you are just starting out on your content marketing journey—or looking to get the “yes” for a new project—let’s take a look at how to get your boss on your side.

As any marketer will agree, content marketing feeds that curious and adventurous spirit in all of us. I’m always learning something new and no two days ever feels the same. At the same time, content marketing reinforces tactics and strategies that we inherently know, and it’s great to be reminded of them time and again.

This week, I decided to begin a “Friday Reflections” series, dedicated to doing X y and Z. I truly believe that personal growth, development and fulfillment come from reflecting not only on new lessons learned, but also on those things that we already know. Revisiting our roots as marketers is what will help keep us grounded and level headed.

So this is my promise to you: Every other Friday I (or another member of my team—I have challenged them to join me!) am going to challenge myself to turn away from my stack of emails and ongoing projects, and reflect on the Continue reading “Friday Reflections: Trust your Gut”

This past Sunday morning, pop music behemoth Taylor Swift wrote an open letter to Apple, explaining why she was not making her most recent smash hit album, “1989,” available on the company’s streaming service, Apple Music.

As marketers, there is no richer experience than having meaningful dialogue with our industry counterparts. After all, just one quick conversation can give us the motivation to launch our next marketing campaign or encourage us to look at digital channels in a whole new light.

This very notion was on our minds when we conceptualized our first Content Boost Content Marketing Crash Course last December. Though we wanted to educate like-minded marketing professionals on the latest happenings in the industry—particularly content marketing happenings—we also wanted to create an open forum for all marketers to organically share their best tips and tricks. Our team was gratified that a group of busy marketers had the determination to spend a whole day listening to breakouts, participating in small group discussions and meeting one-on-one with our team. It shows just how much we crave insight into our craft and collaboration with our peers, especially in an eye-opening learning environment.

It’s time we had an important talk: Your editorial process is killing your beautiful content. Here’s why.

First, one of your staff writers creates a witty, thought-provoking article for your website. Next, the piece must go to an editor—or two—for quality inspection before landing back on your writer’s desk. It may go back and forth multiple times. After that, the post may go to a high-ranking executive for messaging approval before being passed along to a board of directors. Finally, it must pass through your legal team. Several weeks—or sometimes months—later, the post winds up on your website—a tired, bland, and likely outdated version of its former self.

I’ve been asked by a lot of our clients recently, “Will a rebrand hurt our corporate image?” It’s an interesting question. After all, it seems like for years, we as marketers had to convince the powers that be within our organizations to worry about things like website layouts, logos and company slogans. We finally won and, as a result, many of us vowed we would never go down that rocky path again. But now suddenly we are realizing that oftentimes as our brands pivot in terms of strategic direction and positioning, our branding efforts have to shift as well. And sometimes a corporate rebrand is necessary.

So my answer to you is, “No, a rebrand will not hurt your corporate image… so long as you do it right.”

Lately, it appears that most marketing content is geared towards millenials or even baby boomers. Although I’m sure they’re all perfectly nice people, it seems like Generation X—born between 1961 and 1981—has been relegated to second-class citizen status when it comes to product promotion.

I don’t only say that because I am approaching middle age (whatever that means) and feeling left out, but because I believe that much of what defines our popular culture today—such as rap music and ground-breaking TV series like “Breaking Bad,” “The Sopranos” and “Sex in the City”—is a product of my generation. Therefore, our absence from marketing content seems like an anomaly.

As more and more people turn to social networking sites as an all-inclusive location for their news, sports and entertainment, it has become more important than ever for marketers to be constantly plugged in to the trends of social media.

At first glance, the idea of constantly keeping up with the giant wealth of ever-changing information present on social networks seems incredibly daunting, especially for smaller businesses without the aid of a full marketing team. In reality, however, businesses with any size and capability can capitalize on social media trends to spread awareness of their brand.

Six years ago I was invited on a golf trip for the first time with a group of other highly enthusiastic golfers like myself. The trip destination changes every year and in my inaugural year, it so happened that we ventured up to the Syracuse, NY area to Turning Stone Resort and Casino.